Construction to Impact Homecoming Parking, Traffic Flow

Several construction projects on the Samford University campus will impact parking and traffic patterns during the University's annual homecoming weekend Oct. 28-30.

Plans have been made for overflow parking at Homewood High School and the Samford Soccer Stadium on South Lakeshore Drive on Saturday, Oct. 29. Shuttles will run from overflow lots beginning about 8:30 a.m. and continuing until after the late evening performance by comedian Bill Cosby in the Wright Center.

"Homecoming always is a great time of celebration at Samford," said Billy Ivey, alumni relations officer. "There will be some adjustments this year for our guests because of the construction, but the inconveniences should not deter anyone from planning to be on campus for the weekend."

A new parking lot south of Seibert Stadium is under construction but may not be ready in time for homecoming weekend, University officials said. Construction of the new music building adjacent to the Wright Center also has eliminated a small parking lot between the Wright Center and Samford Hall.

Parking also will be limited in some commuter parking lots near the Wright Fine Arts Center on Friday, Oct. 28, to accommodate the annual homecoming bonfire and an evening street festival. Regular shuttle service will be provided during the day on Oct. 28 from the University's current overflow lot on University Park Drive near Homewood High School.

Traffic on Montague Drive, the main thoroughfare around the central campus, will be stopped from 10:20 a.m. until about 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29, for the homecoming parade. University officials do not expect the parade to impact parking accessibility on the east side of campus except during the traffic stoppage.

Ivey said that patrons arriving for the 5:30 p.m. performance by Cosby should use the overflow parking areas and ride the shuttles to the Wright Center.

"Those guests will arrive about the same time as the football game ends," Ivey noted. "To avoid traffic jams, we want to encourage folks to use the overflow lot."